LIHI and Partners Celebrate Good Shepherd House Grand Opening

On May 29th, parishioners, clergy, elected officials, project funders, housing supporters, and LIHI staff gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Good Shepherd House, seven-story, a 86-unit building with 84 studio apartments providing permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless people located at 1415 22nd Ave., Seattle.

Rep Pramila Jayapal, Sharon Lee, LIHI Board Chair Melinda Nichols, and Rep Frank Chopp

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal:

"We are at a critical moment where the cost of living is completely unaffordable. Our city is changing in ways that aren't healthy for us. Low-income housing is absolutely critical. Homelessness is not a moral failure. It is a policy failure, a policy choice that we have made to not invest in places that allow people to live. So today is just so inspiring: 18 apartments for low-wage workers and 66 homes for formerly homeless people. This is a huge, exciting celebratory investment."

LIHI Board Chair Melinda Nichols:

"We must continue to be partners and be compassionate because we recognize that people without a roof over their heads are dying in King County through no fault of their own. There is no shame in being homeless. Thank you all for doing all you can to help."

State Rep Frank Chopp:

"The work we do is not only about doing the right thing but to keep coming up with the next idea: Joe Martin's health clinic for the homeless, Sharon Lee's tiny houses, the new Apple Health and Home that allows doctors to prescribe housing."

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd was well represented at the event, with a trustee, three pastors, and many parishoners, all having played a part in moving from hosting a tent encampment on their church land to hosting Seattle's first Tiny House Village to leasing the land to LIHI for 99 years to develop Good Shepherd House.

Former Good Shepherd pastor Rev. Steven Olsen shared the origin story of Good Shepherd House: "It all started with a knock on the door of the church. Scott Morrow and Nickelodeons were looking for a place for Nickelsville to camp and wantd to use our church land. I invited them outside and we stood together on this scared ground and joined hands and prayed. From that knock at the door came the camp, then the tiny house village and now Good Shepherd House. Over the years that all these transformations were taking place there also grew an ever explanding circle of partnerships full of wonderful, courageous and visionary people. Partnership is a holy thing. To make good trouble in the neighorhood: I believe that God likes that. He blesses those that do. Jesus said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." He's still knocking today. You never know what you're missing out on if you choose to ignore that."

Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth suprised and delighted the assemblage by leading them in the song "We've Come This Far By Faith."

Good Shepherd House is the first to make use of Seattle’s new Affordable Housing Ordinance on Religious Organization Land that provides development bonuses for affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations. The ordinance allowed for increased density, resulting in an increase from 65 to 86 units. LIHI has a 99-year lease on the land from the church.

Good Shepherd House received $8.3 million in capital funds from the Seattle Office of Housing. Funding from HUD and the City’s JumpStart revenue is providing operating support. Other funders include: Enterprise, Heritage Bank, State Housing Trust Fund, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and Wyncote Foundation NW.

Contractor: Walsh Construction

Architects: Runberg Architecture Group

Thank you to Walsh Construction for sponsoring the open house.